Binding Spring Love

Shen Shixiao was born on the coldest day of winter.

When Song Wan was pregnant with Shen Shixiao, she didn't suffer at all, but unexpectedly, she made up for it all during childbirth.

Everyone thought that since her pregnancy was stable and it wasn't her first child, she would likely have a smooth delivery. However, Song Wan endured the pain for two whole days before finally giving birth to him.

Shen Qianyu had never experienced such torment in his entire life.

He still remembers the woman's hoarse growls and painful groans coming from inside the house.

Song Wan's voice sounded unfamiliar. Shen Qianyu had been absent from court for two days without eating or drinking, and had been waiting anxiously outside.

He tried to rush into the house several times, but Wan Xiao stopped him each time.

"His Majesty going in will only cause those midwives worry and fear. He will not only fail to help the Empress, but will also cause more trouble."

Shen Qianyu's eyes were bloodshot: "Then what am I supposed to do? Just stand here like an idiot and wait without doing anything?"

He knew Wan Xiao was right, but Shen Qianyu hated his own powerlessness.

"Your Majesty... perhaps you could pray to Heaven for the Empress's protection so that she can have a smooth delivery."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qianyu lifted his knees and knelt directly in front of the delivery room.

Upon seeing this, everyone in Wanxiao's courtyard knelt down.

"I pray to Heaven today to bless my wife with a safe delivery. I vow to remain a vegetarian for the rest of my life in exchange for my wife's well-being."

Shen Qianyu knelt down and prayed devoutly.

He had never believed in ghosts or gods, nor feared heaven or earth. But from this day forward, he would believe in all the gods and Buddhas of the world and live in reverence, as long as his wife was safe and sound.

Lin Jiayue also knelt in the courtyard. The stone bricks on the ground were icy cold, but everyone seemed not to feel it and knelt upright.

She looked at the man in the bright yellow robe at the front and suddenly felt a little dazed.

After kneeling for a long time, her knees ached terribly. She looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to her, simply slumped down on her back.

If Song Wan is healthy, it doesn't matter whether she sits or lies down, and Song Wan won't hold it against her. But if Song Wan can't get through this, judging from Shen Qianyu's crazy appearance, she and the midwives she brought into the palace might not survive.

Since she couldn't even survive, why did she have to suffer before she died?

With that in mind, Lin Jiayue spread her heavy cloak on the ground and sat down to wait for the result.

The man's incessant, misspelled chanting filled the air, and as Lin Jiayue listened to his clumsy but sincere voice, her heart gradually calmed down.

She watched Shen Qianyu's retreating figure, her heart aching.

She used to laugh at the ancients for not understanding love, but now she sees how they could not understand it.

She's the one who doesn't understand.

Jiang Xingjian's face flashed through her mind, but Lin Jiayue blinked and banished it from her thoughts.

As darkness fell, many people collapsed, unable to hold on any longer, but Shen Qianyu remained kneeling upright, seemingly oblivious to everything. By late at night, even Wan Xiao could no longer endure it and sat down on his side.

For a moment, no one in the entire courtyard except Shen Qianyu could straighten their backs.

Wan Xiao looked at the other person's knees with concern, but did not go forward to persuade him.

At this point, Shen Qianyu could only follow his lead, no matter what he wanted to do.

Throughout the night, the midwife went in and out, carrying out countless basins of bloody water. Just as dawn was breaking, everyone heard a middle-aged woman in the room shout, "The Empress has given birth!" followed by the baby's piercing cries.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has given birth! She has successfully delivered the Second Prince..."

The midwife wrapped the baby up tightly and carried him out, but Shen Qianyu didn't even glance at him before walking into the house. He had been kneeling all night, and his legs were numb; before he could even stand up, he fell straight forward.

Wan Xiao and the others rushed forward to help him, but Shen Qianyu pushed them away and struggled to crawl forward a few steps.

"This servant has overstepped his bounds."

"Wan'er..."

Having been in labor for two days, Song Wan had already fallen into a coma, so how could she hear Shen Qianyu's calls? Shen Qianyu only saw Song Wan sinking into the soft pillow, her face pale and motionless.

He couldn't help but stick out two fingers to touch Song Wan's nose.

The woman's faint breath proved that she was still alive. Shen Qianyu wanted to touch her face, but when he reached out his hand and saw the bluish-purple color on it, he realized that his palm was ice cold.

He quickly withdrew his hand, rubbed it stiffly, and then touched Song Wan through the thick blanket.

Seeing Song Wan's eyelids twitch slightly, the man, who was over thirty, suddenly burst into tears.

"Take good care of the Second Prince. All other irrelevant personnel may leave."

Ji Rong stepped forward, pulled Shen Qianyu up, and had the imperial physician take his pulse before helping him to a chair.

Shen Qianyu's legs were still numb. It took the imperial physician a long time to administer acupuncture before he gradually began to feel strange pains such as burning, itching, and numbness.

"Your Majesty has not eaten for a long time, would you like some soup or porridge?"

"No need."

Shen Qianyu stared blankly at Song Wan's sleeping face and said in a low voice, "Summon the Imperial Kitchen. From now on, no meat or fish shall be served in my meals."

Ji Rong frowned, indicating that he had no choice but to agree to it for the time being.

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince's name..."

The eunuch brought over a sandalwood tray, on which was the second prince's birth date and time.

After a slight pause, Shen Qianyu picked up his pen and casually wrote down the three characters "Shen Shixiao".

He had never imagined this child would be a prince, and he had never given the prince a name. Right now, he had no time to consider anything else; he had intended to inscribe the character "骄" (jiao, meaning proud), but unexpectedly, he wrote "骁" (xiao, meaning brave/valiant) instead.

"Let's leave it at that."

Pushing the eunuch aside, Shen Qianyu continued to guard Song Wanlai.

Perhaps due to the damage to her blood and qi during childbirth, Song Wan slept for several days before slowly waking up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Shen Qianyu with a stubble-covered face and a haggard appearance.

"How many days have you been watching over me?"

Her voice was hoarse, and the moment she opened her mouth, Shen Qianyu was startled and looked up.

"You're awake?"

"I have been watching over you for five days, and in those five days I have called out to you, but you have not answered me once."

The man's voice was aggrieved as he gripped Song Wan's hand tightly against his cheek, not daring to let go for even a moment. He felt that if he relaxed even slightly, she would leave him.

Upon hearing this, Song Wan smiled weakly: "I'm tired, so I'll rest for a few days. No wonder I haven't been sleeping well; it turns out you've been bothering me the whole time."

She touched the man's cheek, her heart softening.

Judging from his haggard appearance, he must have been frightened these past few days.

He becomes exceptionally timid when it comes to anything related to her; his former boundless boldness has vanished.

Song Wan felt extremely distressed and held onto Shen Qianyu's hand for a long time without letting go.

The couple remained silent, their expressions a mixture of relief and lingering fear at having survived such a close call.

After a long pause, Song Wan chuckled softly, "So, is our child a little princess or a little prince?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qianyu's eyebrows and eyes immediately drooped.

He said in a slightly tired, nasal voice, "He's a rascal."

Song Wanxin felt a slight regret: "It's alright, the next one should be the little princess."

For the first time ever, Shen Qianyu didn't answer. He pulled Song Wan's hand and turned his head away, no longer speaking.